ARMED DRUG DEALER SENTENCED TO TWELVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR ROLE IN SELLING FIVE POUNDS OF METH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 23, 2007

MANUEL PEREZ PEREZ, also known as Hugo Gomez Vasquez, 30, of Tualatin, Oregon was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to twelve years in prison and five years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, and being an Alien in Possession of a Firearm. U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton imposed the sentence in Tacoma, noting that PEREZ PEREZ was armed with a firearm during the drug deal. PEREZ PEREZ pleaded guilty on November 6, 2006. The defendant will face deportation to Guatemala when he completes his sentence.

According to records filed in the case, in September, 2005, PEREZ PEREZ, co-defendant Jose Sagrero Gallardo, 30, of Tualatin, Oregon and two other defendants were involved in a drug deal with a confidential source. The drug deal was set up for a gas station in Port Ludlow on the Olympic Peninsula. The confidential source was to pay $52,500 for five pounds of highly pure methamphetamine. Guadalupe Perez Molina, 33, of Quilcene, Washington set up the deal and Gallardo transported the drugs from Beaverton, Oregon up to the gas station. PEREZ PEREZ served as a lookout, and was armed with a Baretta semi-automatic pistol during the drug deal. The men were all arrested when the transaction took place.

Co-defendant Jose Sagrero Gallardo was sentenced in June 2006 to ten years in prison and five years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Alien in Possession of a Firearm. Guadalupe Perez Molina was sentenced January 5, 2007, to five years in prison and five years of supervised release. The fourth defendant, Moises Gallardo Barragan, was sentenced December 15, 2006 to 70 months in prison.

The case was investigated by the DEA/ Tacoma Regional Narcotics Task Force comprised of DEA agents and local law enforcement officers from Tacoma Police, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, Washington State Department of Corrections, Bonney Lake Police and Auburn Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Thomas.

For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206)553-4110.